reuse old tv lcd screen brands

Learning how to use old LED TV panels is one way to show kindness to your wallet and the earth. Reuse is arguably the best way to recycle old or broken screens.

Old electronics have functional parts that you can reuse. The same goes for broken electronics, barring fire or a run-in with a crusher. So, don’t write off the entirety of your TV on account of a cracked screen. Creative types can reuse the TV to create furniture or an art piece. Of course, they would need help or knowhow to take the screen apart.

The LED TV panel also lends itself to reuse. Old and intact panels can make versatile displays that connect to all sorts of input devices. Then there are TVs with broken screens. If the glass part of the panel has a crack on it, you can repurpose the backlight system to make a lightbox.

LCD/LED panels have several components, most of which sit in layers. Some layers emit light, others focus the light while the rest diffuse (spread) said light. There are also layers that block certain polarities of light and layers that act as color filters. Here is a broad-strokes arrangement of the different layers; from the back panel to the glass that covers the screen: A reflector sheet sits directly on the acrylic base that makes up the bottom of the LED panel. Its job is to catch stray light from the backlight and reflect it towards the front of the screen

The topmost polarizer layer allows horizontal light to come through the TV screen and straight to your eyeballs. Its job is to improve the color and definition of the images that come through the liquid crystal layer.

It’s usually layers five, six, and seven that sustain damage when your screen breaks. They happen to be the topmost layers of an LED panel. Keep this small note at your fingertips. You’ll need it in a few seconds.

Let’s say you have a TV with some cracks on it. Chances are that the topmost layers of your TV no longer work, but the rest do. These functional lower layers produce, distribute and focus light over the surface of your LED panel. They’re the ideal light source for artificial yet natural-looking daylight.

To speed up this DIY project, get yourself a couple of LED strips and a 12V DC power source. An old TV or laptop adapter will work. Next, take the following steps: First, disassemble your old or broken TV. It will take time and you’ll be taking out a lot of screws

With the chassis off, you should be looking at a panel with some TV guts on it. Strip the panel by detaching the logic board, the power supply, and any other electronics.

If you take a closer look at the base, you’ll find the backlight source. It will likely be an LED strip if it’s an edge-lit TV. For a direct backlit TV, you’ll have multiple strips spread out across the base. The backlight for old LCD screens may be a row of small fluorescent bulbs.

Start by replacing the native backlight with your light source. You’ll first need to remove the LED strip or CCFL system on the internal chassis. Next, place your own LED strip in the exact location of the old backlight source. For a direct-array panel, lay multiple strips across the base and connect them in parallel.

If your old LED panel is intact, you can upgrade it by changing its logic board. Installing a new logic board can increase the type and number of input ports on the TV. The new board could give an old TV the capability to play media from input sources like USB drives and streaming sticks.

The upgrade process happens to be similar, if slightly simpler than the process of creating a lightbox. This time around, you would get to retain all the different layers of the LCD/LED screen.

Maybe you’re into photography and you could use a light source that simulates daylight. Or you may want to add new ports and new features to your ancient but high-quality LED screen. In both scenarios, knowing how to use old LED TV panels can come in handy. Learn how, using this guide as a start.

When televisions were first invented, they were an expensive status symbol. Such is the case with almost any new technology. Even as recent as a generation or two ago, you wouldn"t expect to find more than a single TV in the average home, proudly displayed in the living room where the family could gather around and watch programming together. Recent data suggests that today, there"s an average of 2.3 television sets per household (via Nielsen).

All of which is to say, buying a new television has become an increasingly common affair. With large, feature-rich sets as affordable as they have become, you might be considering an upgrade. If so, you"re likely to find yourself with a spare flat screen on your hands, and nothing to do with it.

Recycling your old tech can be a hassle — but a necessary one, considering the toxic materials they house — and it"s always better to give something a second life if you can. After all, if you paid for it, you might as well get as much utility out of your old set as possible. Just because a television was designed for a specific use doesn"t mean that"s all it can do. With a little creativity, or at least the ability to follow directions, there"s a place in your life for that old flat-screen TV.

These days, there"s not a whole lot of difference between modern (and even not-so-modern) flat-screen TVs and computer monitors. For all intents and purposes, they"re more or less the same thing, just intended for different primary uses. The biggest difference you"re likely to find between your TV and a dedicated computer monitor is the inputs. Your TV likely has some additional RCA ports you probably won"t need.

With just a few minutes and, potentially, an accessory or two, you can hook up your old TV to your computer, and upgrade your existing monitor to something larger, or add it as a second display. If you"re lucky, you already have everything you"ll need to get started. Provided your computer uses HDMI outputs, simply connecting your TV with an HDMI cable and powering it on should do the trick. Some computers, however, utilize a display port instead of HDMI. They look pretty similar, but the shapes are different. No matter how hard you try to cram an HDMI cable in the port, it won"t fit. If that"s the case, you"ll need a simple HDMI adapter to convert the signal.

If your computer happens to use DVI, even with an adapter, you"ll pick up video but not audio, and you"ll need a separate set of cables to send the audio signal (via Gadget Review). Once you"re connected, make sure your TV is switched to the correct input, and you"re off to the races.

It"s much more affordable to make one yourself, especially if you already have a TV just waiting to be integrated. Two Way Mirrors has a comprehensive guide on how to make your own mirror TV, with plenty of different options depending on the materials you have on hand, your budget, and your woodworking skills, but the basic premise is relatively simple.

The main component, aside from the television, is a semi-transparent reflective material. Simply slapping your TV behind your existing bathroom mirror won"t achieve the effect we"re looking for. You want a two-way mirror that will let light come through from behind. Mirror film applied to glass could do the trick. It"s affordable, but it won"t look as nice, and likely won"t stand up over time.

The technology here is pretty minimal, as the mirror does most of the work. When the TV is off, it will look like an ordinary mirror. When the TV is on, you"ll be able to see the picture through it. From there, it"s just a matter of figuring out what information you want displayed. Hooking up a Chromecast is a simple solution, or you can use a Raspberry Pi to customize your display.

If you"re willing to almost completely disassemble your TV, you can transform it into an impressive daylight light source that looks, at first glance, as if you"re peering at a distant sky from a considerable distance.

The secret ingredients are the layers of technology inside your television, which transform the backlight into a well-distributed light panel. The first thing you"re going to need is a screwdriver to dismantle the television. Removing the screws at the back should give you access to the interior. Once inside, you"ll want to get rid of any internal gadgetry you can pry loose. Be careful while you"re doing this to avoid electric shock from any components which may be holding a residual charge. It might even be a good idea to let the TV sit for a while after it has been unplugged. Once you"ve removed everything, you"ll be left with just the display panel.

Just because your TV was intended for viewing movies and television shows, doesn"t mean you can"t use it to display just about whatever you want. If you"re going to toss it out anyway, you might as well transform it into an effective dashboard for displaying any important information you might need at hand.

The process of transforming your old flat screen into a digital dashboard can be as simple or as involved as you want. For an example of a more complicated dashboard, but one which looks pretty cool, check out this tutorial from Thomas Sanladerer.

You can mount the TV however you like, either in landscape or portrait orientation. It can work either way, but tipping it 90 degrees makes for a particularly affecting viewing experience, and may work better with viewing some applications. The real brains of the operation is a Raspberry Pi, which does all the heavy lifting of grabbing your data, and sending it to the TV screen. Connecting your Pi to your TV is as simple as taping or mounting it to the back, and running a cable. Before that, however, you"re going to have to install some software. Luckily, the Raspberry Pi community has done most of the work for you, and you can find a suitable guide here.

If you"ve done everything correctly, the Raspberry Pi can pull information from your calendar, notifications, weather, and more, and display it right on the screen.

Countless science fiction movies and series have promised phones or video displays that are transparent, allowing the user to see the world beyond them, through the screen. We"re not sure how practical a transparent display actually is, but it is certainly cool.

YouTubers Evan and Katelyn did the hard work of figuring out how to make a transparent display happen by stripping down the components of an old TV. You can watch the entire process, but we"ll break down the basics. Fair warning: This project requires even more breakdown than the daylight panel, and there"s a considerable risk something will break in the process. You were going to throw the TV away anyway, so it"s worth a shot. Right?

In this case, the TV works by having a light layer that passes through a liquid crystal display to color it. As before, there are also filters that diffract the light and provide anti-glare. You"ll dismantle your television, careful not to ruin any of the electronics so that you can reassemble your modified display when you"re done. The goal is to isolate the display without any of the housing, so you can see through it to the world beyond. Doing just that, and putting it into a new frame sandwiched between protective glass, will do the job. But as you"ll see in the video, soaking the anti-glare filter with wet paper towels and removing it will improve the picture.

This works on a similar principle as the above-mentioned transparent display. Your screen wants to provide a picture, but needs something to tell it what to display. When powered off, you see an opaque black screen, but that"s due, at least in part, to the casing behind the display.

When the backing is removed, even without the anti-glare filter removed, your screen is partially transparent. When it receives a signal, that transparency can be replaced with an image. In theory, that means you can control, to some degree, the amount of light passing through it and reaching your eye.

Artem Litvinovich at RibbonFarm used the inherent characteristics of an LCD screen to create electronically controlled curtains to cover a window. Much like some of the other projects on this list, the process involves stripping your TV down, and isolating the LCD panel. From there, you"ll have to identify which pins control the transparency and opacity of the screen (via Hackaday).

Depending on how old your TV is, you might be upgrading to finally take advantage of the smart features modern television has to offer when connected to the web. Your old flat screen doesn"t even have to be that old to have missed the smart TV wave: The first modern smart TVs only came out in 2007 (via Smarter Home Guide).

Moving your old set into another room (or even the garage or bathroom, we won"t judge you) means having your entertainment wherever you go. All you need is a way to make it as smart as your new TV. There are a couple of ways to pull this off, depending on how much disposable income you have leftover after your new purchase, and what you might already have lying around (via Gadgets360).

If you"ve got an old game console or laptop you"re no longer using, stringing those up to the TV with an HDMI cable can give you access to online content with nearly limitless features. Otherwise, there are a number of small dongles including Google"s Chromecast, Apple TV, and Roku which serve the same purpose by connecting to the internet, and delivering streaming content to your TV. All you need is the appropriate USB or HDMI input for the device you choose.

So far, we"ve discussed a number of creative ways to breathe new life into an aging TV set, but sometimes the best thing you can do is go back to basics. Your old TV might best serve you by acting as a dedicated gaming station for video games that are even older.

Instead of taking up space in a landfill, it could act as your own personal portal to every video game universe from the Atari to the Nintendo 64, and beyond. Once again, for this build, we"ll be relying on the seemingly endless capabilities of a Raspberry Pi. Running RetroPie on your system can transform your TV, or any display connected to the Raspberry Pi, into the ultimate retro game emulator, allowing you to play your own library of game ROMs.

This guide from Make Use Of walks you through how to mount your Raspberry Pi inside your old TV"s shell, and while that"s objectively more streamlined, it isn"t wholly necessary to achieve the desired effect. Placing your Pi nearby and attached with an HDMI cord is just as good, and will leave you continued access to the components in the event you ever need to get your hands on them again. Easy, elegant, effective. Happy gaming.

TVs have been part of our lives for decades. But now and then, they break or need an upgrade. When a TV breaks beyond repair, it is only natural to replace it as soon as possible. But what to do with the old, broken TV? Putting it in a trash bin is not an option; it is even illegal in most places. Some TVs, mainly the ones with LCD screens, are hazardous to the environment. You must dispose of the old TV properly, and there are several ways to do it.

It doesn’t matter if the TV you’re trying to get rid of has a broken screen, dead pixels, fried circuit boards, or a dead motherboard. You can always do something with it, and some people would even want to buy it. So, here’s everything you can do with a broken TV that you can’t fix.

Sometimes even new TV sets break down, and the manufacturers would gladly replace them when still under warranty. Just note that cracked screens or visible dents and scratches will often disqualify your device for a warranty claim.

Some TV manufacturers will offer to repair your broken TV; if this is not possible, they will give you a new one. Most companies issue a one-year warranty, so check the date you purchased your TV.

If the manufacturer accepts your warranty claim and issues a new device, you should consider buying an extended warranty for your new TV. It will last you up to three years, but it will also have a more comprehensive coverage than the initial manufacturer warranty.

You can cover the costs of getting a new TV by selling your broken TV for cash. Then, think of buying a new smart TV with a Wi-Fi receiver that you can turn into an entertainment center.

But let’s be honest, selling old TVs is not as easy as it used to be. Especially the old, cathode-ray tube (CRT) ones. Even recycling these oldies is difficult as many recycling centers will not accept them. Those that would ask for a fee so they take it from your hands. But all this doesn’t mean it is impossible to sell old TVs. Many people still find a use for them. They either use them for parts or simply create something new and useful with DIY projects. You know what they say: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. So here are some places where you can try selling your old broken device.

Craigslist will allow you to sell your old broken tv locally and skip all the delivery expenses. If you are unsure what price to put for your listing, just check other ads for similar models.

Don’t forget to write an informative description of the TV you are selling. Include the brand, model, type of the screen, and any possible breaks and damages it might have. This way you will be contacted only by those buyers who want your tv.

eBay has over 180 million prospective shoppers, and it is a great place where you can find someone interested in buying a broken tv. eBay operates across the country, and you should expect delivery costs that will cut your earnings. You can avoid this by opting for local pick-up only.

Unlike Amazon, it is free to sell used items on eBay, but keep in mind you will have to pay a fee once your TV gets sold. Consider adding the fee into the initial asking price. That way, you won’t lose much of your earnings.

Facebook Marketplace is Facebook’s platform for selling and buying used and new stuff. You can find anything there, from pet equipment, real estate, and used electronics. It is easy to find people near you who need a broken TV for parts or their next art project.

Repair shops usually buy broken TVs that they can refurbish and resell. However, they also need replacement parts; for this purpose, they sometimes buy old TVs that can’t be fixed. Anything from a power board, capacitor, or t-con board, to the power supply and inverter can be reused.

Don’t know how to find a nearby TV repair shop? Just ask Google or an alternative search engine. If you type something like “TV repair shop near me” you will get some good results.

If you are not looking to sell your broken TV, and want to get rid of it, consider recycling. Depending on your location, throwing an electric appliance in regular trash might be illegal, and recycling might even be your only option. If you don’t know where to look for the companies that would take your old tv, here is a short list.

You should be aware that some landfills will ask you for a fee when you bring them your TV. Others might take it for free. If paying is a problem for you, don’t worry, there are other recycling options.

The Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company has a very insightful website that will tell you where to find the nearest pickup point. They have many such locations across the country, but they don’t always operate at the same hours. The best you can do is give a local MRM Recycling point a call and ask when is the best time to bring your old TV.

MRM has a partnership with many electronic brands such as Toshiba, Vizio, TCL, and Polaroid, and it is this partnership that allows you to recycle your old TVs. In addition, their mail-back program and collaboration with UPS help you to drop off your TV at your local UPS office for free.

Learn all about different Samsung recycling programs on their website. The website will also show you the nearest place where you can take your used TV. But be careful as their programs are reserved only for Samsung TVs.

You can also mail back your Samsung TV by using Samsung’s recycling partners that are near you. The TV needs to weigh up to 50 pounds to benefit from this program. Also, the fees will differ depending on the recycling partner near you.

This one is for all the creatives out there. The broken TVs you can’t repair are excellent material for various art projects or tech gadgets that you might find useful. But remember that some TV components are hazardous for the environment and your health, and learn how to handle them safely.

This tip is for all photographers, videographers, and artists who need a powerful light source for their studios. Use your old LCD screen to make a powerful, daylight-emitting panel! All you need for this project is LED lighting strips, gaffer tape, the LCD screen, a screwdriver, and an optional new metal frame. To make the panel, replace the old CCFL bulbs that backlight the screen with new LED lights.

Have pet fish? How about making them a new, stylish home from your old TV? This simple DIY project will let you keep your old TV in your living room, but with a new purpose. This project is perfect for older Cathode TVs as they are bulkier and can serve as a vessel.

Simply cut the power source, remove the backplate and take out all electronics. Send off the old screen, and put an aquarium inside the TV box. Decorate it with typical water plants, stones, and a fish castle, or be more creative and make a modern apartment for your pet fish.

This DIY project can be as simple as buying some IKEA furniture legs and screwing them onto your old TV, preferably flat screen, to make a new coffee table. A broken screen can even give an artistic vibe to this whole project. So be creative and use the flat screen of your old LCD or LED TV to create a futuristic table.

What did you do with your old TV? Let us know in the comments below! Also, check out all the cool things you can do with old RAM if you have some old RAM sticks lying around.

At TeleTraders, we want to buy your used LCD Displays from you in bulk. If you’re older LCD Displays are still usable, consider selling them to TeleTraders to help offset your equipment upgrade costs. Give TeleTraders a call at

When it comes time to update your office, offset your expenses and sell used LCD Displays. We will make you a competitive offer for your old monitors, LCDs, computers, modems, and laptops.

Our company is happy to purchase your old used, outdated LCD displays and monitors to free your business from the sometimes complicated electronics disposal processes. Please give us a call at 770-864-9179 or get a Free Online Quote to get started.

We work hard to repurpose or recycle the working items to save all companies money on their equipment costs and reduce the consumption of Earth’s natural resources. Equipment with minor problems may go through our refurbishment process to restore its functionality and improve its appearance to be resold again.

Our team utilizes industry experience to provide you with a fair and competitive price quote for your old used LCD displays and computer devices. We continue to upgrade our knowledge base as office equipment quickly becomes outdated in the constantly changing world of electronics. We team up with many companies around the world to quickly resell, repurpose, or recycle the LCD displays sent our way. Our efforts ensure the electronics remain in operation well beyond their initial run with your company.

When you sell your LCD displays and other office equipment to TeleTraders, we can also handle all of the packing, removal and transporting for the equipment, helping free up both your space and your time.

We understand that office technology needs change over time. The LCD displays and monitors that worked for your office a year or two ago may not be keeping pace anymore with your needs. We can help by offering you the best rates possible for your bulk LCD displays. Contact TeleTraders to get started right now.

When it’s time to upgrade your computer and LCD displays, you shouldn’t have to spend lots of time trying to figure out how to dispose of, sell or recycle your used LCD displays and office equipment – that’s where TeleTraders will be able to help you.

We request a detailed list of your used office LCD displays, including make, model, and quantity of units. Please, also include a photo of your equipment so we can gauge the current quality of the hardware.

TeleTraders is happy to accept most major and minor brands of common IT office LCD displays, office LCD display systems, and also other IT office equipment. If there is any question about whether we will accept your brand of equipment, feel free to contact us by phone or email at any time and we will respond to your inquiry as quickly as possible.

We are always looking to help businesses, small and large, offset the costs of upgrading their IT office LCD displays and IT office LCD display systems. In order to make an inquiry about a possible trade-in valuation, please Contact Us so we can work with you to evaluate used IT office LCD display gear. You may also Call Us directly for immediate assistance.

Maybe it"s old. Maybe it stopped working. Maybe you just want a bigger TV. Regardless of the reason, take some time away from drooling over your new TV prospects and spare a moment for your old one. That trusty TV that gave you seven great seasons of Game of Thrones (and one other) and countless movies, and showed your favorite teams winning, or not winning, the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup or some variation of all three. Are you just planning on throwing out your old TV? Actually, don"t.

Fortunately, many of the options for getting rid of an old TV don"t cost you anything, other than perhaps a little bit of your time. Here"s what to do. For more, check out whether

No matter what you intend to do with your TV, make sure you log out of all your streaming accounts. Then go one step further and do a factory reset, which you can find buried in the user menu. Obviously having somebody

First of all, you need local pickup for a TV. No matter how well you pack a TV, even if you have the original box, it"s probably not going to survive the trip. Modern TVs are far too fragile. Now the seller has to deal with a broken TV and you have to give the buyer their money back.

And that"s if you can sell it. Used TVs depreciate quickly, in part because new TVs are getting cheaper and cheaper. That TV you spent $2,000 on? Maybe you can get $200. Check out the "Is your TV worth anything?" section at the bottom.

There"s also Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers or another drop-off secondhand retailer. You"ll need to bring the TV to one of their locations. Check their website to see if they"ll accept your TV"s type and size. For instance, they probably won"t take an old

Some cities and local jurisdictions offer TV recycling, either drop-off at a recycling center or as part of your regular curbside pickup. Contact your local government to find out details.

There are a number of organizations that will help recycle your electronics, including TVs. Check out the EPA"s page for more info. MRM Recycling also has a page to help you locate options in your area.

Most people remember what they paid for a TV and assume it"s still worth something years after they bought it. This just isn"t true. TVs have gotten so inexpensive there just isn"t much of a market for used televisions these days, especially if the TV wasn"t that expensive to begin with.

Now, there are exceptions to these rules. You might be able to find a collector for your 500-pound RCA console TV. Maybe an archeology major is doing a project on early flat-panel TVs and finds your mint Fujitsu a prime candidate for their dissertation.

As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000 mile road trips, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures.

Who can say ‘no’ to a free TV, even if it’s broken? This was the situation [Andrew Menadue] ended up in last year when he was offered an LG 39LE4900 LCD TV. As [Andrew] describes in the blog post along with videos (see first part embedded after the break), this particular television had been taken to a television repair shop previously after the HDMI inputs stopped working, but due to a lack of replacement parts the owner had to make due with the analog inputs still working. That is, until those stopped working as well.

The nice thing about these TVs is that they are very modular inside, as [Andrew] also discovered to his delight. In addition to the LG controller board, an inverter board and the power supply board, this TV also contained a TCON PCB. After some initial unsuccessful swapping of the parts with EBay replacements, nothing was (surprisingly) working, but it did turn out that the TCON and inverter boards are made and sold by AUO (major Taiwanese display manufacturer), along with the display itself.

In the end it turned out that the AUO boards and screen were fine, and after sourcing a board to convert VGA input to the LVDS signal accepted by the TCON board, the whole display worked. Naturally using a board with HDMI inputs would be nice, but it does show how a ‘broken’ TV can be turned into a really nice, big monitor without all too much effort if it’s just the controller board that went on the fritz.

Technology is constantly evolving, bringing us new and better devices that leave us questioning what we ever thought was so great about those old ones in the first place. Last year’s mobile phones, TVs, and computers that use LCD screens are now dated by ever-improving models and a better grade of LCD – so replacing and upgrading the technology is important.

So, what should we do with these old devices and LCD hardware with a lifespan of 10-20 years that we now have lying sad and forgotten in the corner, in the attic, or out on the curb? Recycle them, of course! LCDs have their own regulations for recycling, so here are some tips on how to recycle your old LCD screens and devices.

LCDs that were manufactured before 2009 use cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) to backlight the display. These CCFL displays contain mercury, which makes them hazardous to dispose of or incinerate. Other electronic products can contain hazardous chemicals, such as heavy metals and brominated flame retardants. These materials can leak out of landfills and into groundwater, streams, etc., or can be transformed into “super toxicants” while being incinerated. Throwing away these types of devices can clearly be harmful, even today. There are still some harmful chemicals and materials inside electronic devices that will damage the environment if they aren’t disposed of properly—and many times, they aren’t.

Another big problem is that because of the turn-over rate of these electronic devices, LCD screens are just left sitting in landfills. Since they need to be disposed of in certain ways, they’re left to sit and waste away, taking up space in the landfills. Many states have laws prohibiting the disposal of electronic waste in landfills. Because of that, LCDs are likely to sit and rot, or be incinerated in large quantities. They also could be shipped off to other countries that don’t have these prohibiting laws, which is definitely not the best solution to the problem.

Many times, we get new and better gadgets before the current one even needs replacing. That old TV still works, still shows the picture clearly and there’s not a scratch on it. But this new one…well, it’s bigger. It has the Internet capabilities built right in and it can do backflips! Okay, not really, but the point is that we tend to get something new while we still have a perfectly functioning, but slightly older, model. Instead of keeping it in the attic, you can donate it or recycle it to companies and stores in your area that will take it. These places can resell it to people who don’t have the latest backflipping TV, mobile phone or tablet.

Throwing away functioning devices is wasteful when it can be used and appreciated by someone else. With cellphones, some carriers have donation boxes where you can donate your old, still working cellphone to less fortunate people and families. This is environmentally, economically and morally friendly.

One option for a truly broken product is to take it to an electronics shop or store to see if it can be refurbished. Instead of claiming a lost cause when a screen breaks, see if it can be fixed. Apple has a service where they will take your old and broken phone and use it as part of the study to help improve the next product they’re trying to create.

Since the issue was raised, there has been much research performed on the best method for recycling LCD screens. Different facilities have different ideas, practices and processes. Some of these processes include removing the hazardous waste materials from the screens/monitors; others believe in completely taking apart the device/screen piece by piece and seeing what can be resold or refurbished, then disposing of the rest in environmentally friendly ways.

Almost 98% of an LCD monitor can be recycled. All plastics are removed to be recycled into new products. Printed circuit boards can be recovered from LCD recycling and smelted to recover valuable metals, while cabling is stripped to reclaim copper and other metals.

Considering how frequently we get new electronic devices, being smart about LCD recycling can make a huge difference. General Digital encourages all of its customers to recycle their used computer monitors and televisions. Learn more about e-cycling from Maryland’s Department of the Environment, and Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Monitor manufacturers put in a lot of effort to make sure the back lights distribute brightness as evenly as possible and that will make this a pretty good light box. [x2jiggy] starts off the conversion by removing the case. While it was off he gave it a new coat of paint. The LCD panel, the PCB that drives it, and the light diffuser sheets were all removed, leaving just the backlight and inverter PCB. A bit of probing with the multimeter and he even found a place to connect a toggle switch to actuate the inverter’s power. You can see the silver switch he added to the bezel in the image above. The full build video is embedded after the break.

Roland, were did you get that from? If you focus the light the brightness will increase but the law is still there. You can not reduce the effect. That there is funny I tell you. Here hold my beer I have something else to show you.

When lenses or (non-flat) reflectors are added, things get a little more complex on what distance we are talking about, but the principle still holds, just a little more complex math... Especial if it is not a simple lens or reflector.

Well, not only can you save a piece of old technology from the scrapheap, but you also can repurpose a mundane blank screen into a range of intriguing projects.

Not only can you now spend a rainy afternoon or two taking apart your busted LCD screen, you’ll get that insider’s view of all the interesting circuitry that goes into these electronic devices that are a part of everyday life.

If you are an artist or photographer, you will be well aware of the importance and expense of lighting. But what if we told you that you could make a powerful, portable DIY light panel from an old LCD screen?

This amazing LCD screen hack produces a high-quality panel light that radiates daylight quality light. An equivalent panel light can cost well over a hundred dollars!

We have to admit we were skeptical about this LCD screen project, but the walk-through provided by the BrunaLab team in Florida was convincing. These scientists were more than qualified to take apart an old Panasonic screen to make a StarTrek-worthy infinity table.

This tutorial is a little more than purchasing some IKEA table legs to screw into the screen to make a coffee table (the original hack). Emilio Bruna decided to take his project in a high art direction to produce an infinity lighting effect with blue LEDs.

Again with a little electronic know-how, wiring and battery-powered LED lights an infinity TV coffee table was born. The turnaround of this project was within a day which makes it doable on a weekend that you have free.

We love the futuristic results of the LCD recycling project and the low costs. Emilio Bruna’s project came in at $73 all in, with a wacky blue lighting pattern that kept his kids glued to the coffee table screen!

If you are a tech and electronics enthusiast, you will be aware of the Raspberry Pi revolution. These remarkable single-board computers have the processing power to be put to work in a wide range of projects, including partnering with your broken LCD screen to make your high-end digitized smart mirror!

There are loads of tutorials for this LCD screen mirror which vary in cost, complexity, and overall swagger. The majority of them, place the LCD screen behind a two-way mirror and rely on the WiFi-enabled Raspberry Pi3.

The basics of this build include combining an old OHP projector and laying a stripped-down LCD on the glass of the projector. The OHP does all the hard work of projecting your movie or game.

The like the old school OHPs the visual effect of this projector will be strongest in very low light as the claim to High Definition projection may be a little too enthusiastic.

Also, the LCD does age quite quickly in this arrangement as the light passing through the denuded screen damages the LCD. However, you can definitely gather the family round for a decent movie night or two before it all falls apart!

Raspberry Pi comes to the rescue again as the perfect partner for repurposing your own screen. After all the Raspberry Pi is a computer with no screen to call its own.

This project totally blew us away. How cool is a transparent screen that you can see through while you stream films or play games?! Though this project is not for amateurs it is possible to requisition a discarded LCD TV and create a see-through screen.

To achieve this, you will need an expert takedown of the TV, sepearating every single layer of the screen and building up a custom design and housing.

A broken LCD screen is a potential hazard to your health and the environment so it is important that you handle the screen safely to prevent injury or harm.

Though the screen has liquid crystal, the amount contained within a busted screen is small and unlikely to cause a hazardous spill because it is viscous.

Once in a while, you may need to upgrade your computer monitor. The upgrading process brings about a new concern; your old computer monitor. While some prefer to store old monitors and other e-waste devices in a designated store, you can put these monitors to several uses. Still, many people find it challenging to decide what to do with old computer monitors.

You may find a use for specific internal parts. Old monitors can contain significant amounts of gold – both in their pins and on their surface layers.

Vintage computer monitors have worth, and you should probably think twice before throwing them away. Throwing them shouldn"t be an option as they are environmentally hazardous. You can sell, recycle, repurpose, or donate the computer monitor. You can also reuse specific internal computer parts.

Cathode Ray Tube monitors have a leaded glass with toxic metals, which never breaks down naturally. Instead, they decompose in the soil, air, or water. This condition poses a danger to the living things and the environment. Similarly, an LCD monitor contains fluorescent bulbs that backlight the monitor. These bulbs, when disposed of, emit toxins into the surrounding, risking the living things inhabiting the environment.

Ensure you do enough research on the best option to dispose of your old monitor before disposing of it. Other than recycling or selling the old monitor, you can also donate it or find a use for specific internal parts of the monitor.

This computer monitor disposal method is the best alternative to disposing of your old monitor. Reselling the monitor is simple as you only need to find the buyer and agree on the price. You can sell to an organization or an individual computer monitor user.

Another benefit of reselling your old monitor is profit from the sale. The only challenge with this option is that it might be hard finding the old computer monitor buyer, especially the CRT monitors. (CRT monitors are large and heavy, meaning they take a lot of space. They are also outdated, and most users will opt for new advanced alternative computer monitors).

To help find a buyer easily, price your old monitor at a lower price than what you bought it for. You should also avoid pricing the monitor higher than another available monitor of the same size. You can list your old computer monitor in online marketplaces. However, you need to have proof of function, which may require you to attach photos with the monitor plugged in.

While many computer users don"t consider this option, it is, on the other hand, a worthy computer monitor disposal option. You can recycle these monitors from several electronic manufacturers and dealers found in your localities. You"ll be, of course, charged a small recycling fee, which makes sense than being charged for disposing of your old computer monitor in a dumpster. (Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, fines those found disposing of old electronics, including vintage computer monitors and other environmentally harmful substances, into landfills). You"ll only need to locate the electronic dealer and take your old computer monitor to their store or arrange for pick up from your location.

What else are you left to do with that old computer monitor taking up valuable space in your room than donating it out? This option isn"t the immediate solution but can be the only solution if all other options prove ineffective. You may want to sell the monitor but fail to find a buyer. In this scenario, you"ll need to do nothing other than find an establishment where you can donate the computer monitor.

You may be unable to find a suitable use for the whole computer monitor, but you may find a use for specific internal parts. The internal electronic components of old computer monitors have many applications, even when the monitor is faulty or damaged. This is a more viable option as it solves the disposal concern for the monitor straight up than reselling or donating it. Also, you save on the extra coins needed to purchase components you recycle from your old computer monitor.

If you opt to recycle computer monitors, you have unlimited options to recycle them. Ranging from using them as a smart mirror (you can make a customizable smart mirror that projects a computer display over a traditional reflective mirror), to using them for dual monitor setup, here is a list of how you can best use your old computer monitor.

Yes, any monitor will work with any computer regardless of brand or operating system. Modern operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, and Mac are all coded to be compatible with any visual display device, such as a monitor or a TV, that can be connected to it.

Old LCD monitors, which are broken, can be used as mirrors. However, if the LCD monitor still functions, you can add a Raspberry Pi to make a smart magic mirror. Depending on the amount you wish to spend, you can choose varied Raspberry Pi smart magic projects.

After removing all internal components of an old CRT monitor, you"ll remain with an empty CRT casing. You can use the empty casing by turning it into a fish tank. You"ll only need to add some Plexiglas and paint the exterior to your taste.

An old flat screen monitor, especially an LCD monitor, can be turned into a dashboard. You can use the Raspberry Pi (a tiny, affordable, full-functioning computer) to make a DIY DAKboard. This LCD monitor is used as a clock and shows the weather forecast, news headlines, calendar events, and stock quotes.

You can still use an old computer monitor for a dual monitor setup as you"ll do with today"s vertical monitors, for example. However, the monitor needs to be functional for this use. In your dual monitor setup, the second monitor can function as a dashboard, extended screen, or video streaming screen. The extra monitor can also significantly improve your productivity.

Final Word on Old MonitorsOld computer monitors may still be worth something if they could get their second lives as refurbished monitors. Other than computer monitor recycling, reselling, and donating them to institutions and the less fortunate, there are several ideas of putting the old computer monitors into use. Discarding the old computer monitors to dumpsites should never be an option as they contain toxins that may contaminate the environment. You may also face charges from EPA for disposing of the old computer monitor into dumpsites. Do enough research before disposing of your old computer monitor.

Computer monitors, including cathode ray tube (CRT monitor), LCD and plasma monitors are considered hazardous waste. Never throw computer or television monitors in the trash, as they can leach lead and other toxic chemicals into the environment.

A lot of older games are sprite-based and CRTs have a certain magic that makes those games look and feel the best. This is not necessarily a “scientific” conclusion but is something that a lot of retro gamers have noticed and that is why they have stuck with good old monitors.

Demand for CRT screens dropped in the late 2000s. The rapid advances and falling prices of LCD monitor flat panel technology — first for computer monitors, and then for televisions — spelled doom for competing display technologies such as a CRT monitor, rear-projection, and plasma display.

These old monitors may contain between 4 and 7 percent copper, between 5 and 10 percent lead, and approximately 30 percent silica (the chief component of the glass in a CRT monitor), in addition to other material (primarily plastic from the plastic casings). CRTs also are recycled.

Electronics, such as televisions, computers, and computer monitors, contain toxic substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium, lithium, brominated flame retardants, phosphorous coatings, and PVC plastics. When thrown away these devices can release their toxics, posing a threat to human health and the environment. Because of the threat posed by these toxics, it is illegal to throw away cathode ray tubes and LCD screens in Maine. Electronics also contain high quality plastics, copper, aluminum, and small amounts of silver, gold, and other precious metals. Mining and processing these the materials is energy intensive and environmentally detrimental. By recycling your old devices, you can prevent the release of toxic substances and ensure valuable materials are recovered.

Households, K-12 schools, small NGOs and businesses: Maine households, elementary and secondary schools, businesses with 100 or fewer employees, and 501(c)3 nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees can recycle much of their e-waste at little to no cost through Maine"s product stewardship program – scroll down for more information.

Electronics leaving large businesses often have value in the reuse market, in which case businesses can direct their material to a company performing asset management – check with your electronics recycler to find out if they offer this service. Universal Waste Management Companies (PDF) can also ensure electronics from large businesses are handled and recycled in accordance with all regulatory requirements. For more information on the handling of electronics by Universal Waste Management Companies, contact the Hazardous Waste staff at (207)287-7688.

Under Maine’s product stewardship program for e-waste, manufacturers pay for the recycling of televisions, portable DVD players, game consoles, computer monitors, laptops, tablets, e-readers, 3D printers, desktop and portable printers, digital picture frames, and other visual display devices with screens of at least 4 inches measured diagonally and one or more circuit boards. Cell phones are not included in this program but may be recycled at the retail locations of cell service providers. Electronic accessories are not covered by the program but are often accepted at sites that accept the covered devices listed above.

Municipalities ensure that their residents have a collection site or event that will take these "covered electronic devices" for recycling. Some collection sites charge a small fee to help cover their costs of operation. Households, elementary and secondary schools, and small businesses and non-profits are responsible for bringing their e-waste to a collection site or event.

give IT. get IT. (previously PCs for MAINE and eWaste Alternatives) is a nonprofit that reuses computers to help people achieve their employment and educational goals. give IT. get IT. can accept all kinds of working or waste electronics from businesses or households. (off-site)

When you replace your flat screen monitor with a new version, you have to figure out what to do with your old one. While it might seem tempting to just toss it in the dumpster, the chemicals and components inside the monitor are hazardous for the environment. Better to reuse or recycle instead.

E-Waste Issues Compared to the old, bulky CRT monitors of yesteryear, which contained pounds of lead, flat LCD screen monitors may seem downright eco-friendly. But the backlights in monitors manufactured before 2009 used mercury, a hazardous chemical to burn or let loose in the environment. The mercury-containing backlights were replaced in 2010 with LED lights, which aren"t toxic, but still need recycling to help companies recover some of the valuable materials inside.

What Not to Do Throwing your old monitor into the trash isn"t just wasteful and possibly dangerous, it may be illegal in your area. States and counties are cracking down on the dangerous materials released when this electronic waste, or e-waste, is tossed into landfills. Setting that old monitor out on the curb on trash day could earn you a fine.

Recycle For those monitors that have gone belly up and popped their last pixel, a recycling center is the path for you. Not every recycling center can handle e-waste, so call around to find one properly set up for old computer equipment. Search for “computer recycling” or “e-waste recycling” and your city online to find local places to take your old monitor. Some retailers and manufacturers take back old equipment for proper recycling, such as Best Buy and Dell, so check them out. In most cases you"ll have to pay a fee when you turn over your monitor, so shop around to find the best deal.

When I purchased my previous desktop computer during the height of Covid, I set out to refine my current skillset. I began taking writing classes and for a time, some basic web development. It didn’t take long to see that my single screen desktop wasn"t enough, I needed another monitor. After several weeks of trial and error, I finally found the cable I needed to connect my PC to a second monitor. Instant success! I quickly put this new monitor to good use while searching for jobs on LinkedIn, writing, and watching YouTube.

Like a voice from above (since I am an ordained minister, I do listen to those voices.) my thoughts turned to how I could reuse that old laptop monitor. And guess what, YouTube responded with dozens of solutions on the topic. However, only one of them worked for me, a LCD Controller board.

But for that, I needed the model number on the back of the screen. The process is simple, but delicate. I had to disassemble my dead laptop to gain access to the hinges. These hinges secure the screen to the main laptop chassis. Once these hinges are released the screen will fall free. Next, I had to separate the screen from its confinement. The bezel surrounding my screen is plastic snapped into plastic and secured with six screws. Once the screws are removed, the plastic cover snapped apart. Be careful, it is extremely fragile.

The details for this procedure for my Toshiba, are described in the links below. However, they shouldn’t be too dissimilar. A search for your computer will hopefully reveal similar helpful information. But it’s broken, right, how much more can you break it? Once I had access to the laptop screen the search on Amazon was easy.

On Amazon, I searched for “Toshiba LCD controller board LTN173KT01” and several popped up. Be sure the description specifically states that is it compatible with your specific monitor. The number of pins is especially important. My screen needed a 40-pin connection. You will see my part number appear in the description thumbnail below. Again, this is a delicate procedure. Pull too hard and you can rip the cables from the monitor.

I didn’t think this far ahead, so I didn’t photograph how I connected the controller board. Simply put, gently unplug the original cable from the screen, and lay it aside. I left mine attached and taped it down to the plastic cover. After connecting a power cord, this may require additional research, but a link is listed below, I had one laying around, the monitor worked perfectly. You will also need a cable of some type (DVI, HDMI, or VGA) from the control board to your laptop or PC. I chose an HDMI cable.

All joking aside, be careful with your new build. An older PC might not be able to able the additional screen sucking ram. With the included HMDI connection, I can use other devices such as DVD player, photo viewer, or even a security camera monitor. How can I listen to a DVD player you might ask? Well, that’s a good question, but the answer is, external speakers! There is an external speaker jack soldered right onto the control board. I haven’t tested these other options, but the day is still young.

Before I began writing this article, I wanted to make sure this set up worked. Lo and behold, I was quite pleased when it worked on my first attempt. So, it truly is plug and play. I had wondered what was wrong with the old Toshiba and obviously it wasn"t the screen. Oh well, after all I"ve done to the old girl, it"s more like Humpty Dumpty than a laptop computer. As a result, this Frankenstein of a work station will suffice until it, too, dies.

As for mounting the screen to my standing desk, I used one of those old metal bookends that I screwed to the desk. I stuck the bookend and acrylic case to the back of the monitor with command strips. It isn"t ascetically pleasing, but it is functional, and where I can see it.